Index tab



Aug. 4, A1936. W. T. GoLLwlTzl-:R

INDEX TAB Original Filed May 25, 1932 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INDEX TAB Walter T. Gollwitzer, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to Addressograph Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware 7 Claims.

My prior application No. 612,957, led May 23rd, 1932, of which this application is a division, shows and describes a novel index tab and one form of address plate frame on which the same may be mounted, and claimed the tab, the frame, and the combination thereof. My later application No. 703,899, filed December 26th, 1933, shows the same tab applied to a different form of addressing device and operated in a somewhat different manner, and claims that addressing device and the tab combined therewith.

'I'he present application is concerned with the tab itself, whether used in the combination of either of said prior applications or in some other combination. The claims of this application are taken from application 612,957, where they have been held allowable.

The tab comprising` the present invention is adapted to be readily inserted in any one of a Y number of keepers on the device to be indexed, and when so inserted. will be automatically locked in place, but may be very readily released and removed whenever desired. It may be stated, therefore, that the general object of the invention is to provide a simple index tab having these characteristics. K

More particularly, it is an object to provide the tab of such a character that it may be insertedl either face forward, thus simplifying the matter of insertion if both faces are alike, and, on the other hand, doubling the indicating value of the tab if the opposite faces are different, as, for instance, of different colors. Another object is to provide a tab which will not become tangled with other tabs when lying loosely in a receptacle.

I accomplish lthe desired results by providing a tab on the shank of which is a tongue projecting toward the body of the tab and having sufficient spring action so thatV it will normally lie 'in the plane of the tab or return thereto when free, but may be readily forced out of such plane and thus become a projecting barb registeringwith a retaining shoulder on the member to be indexed.

As illustrated in the drawing hereof, and as hereinafter claimed, the diversion of the tongue from its normal plane may be effected consequentupon the insertion of the tab into the keeperof the member to be indexed, thus automatically locking the tab upon insertion, while thereafter the tab maybe readily freed by a slight manual pressure against the. tongue, pressing it back into the plane of the tab.

' My tab is illustrated in the drawing hereof, which also shows the tab mounted in addressing devices respectively of the character of the two applications mentioned. In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a perspective of the tab itself; Fig. 2 is a face view of an address plate frame with two of the tabs mounted thereon, this frame being in accordance with my application 612,957; Fig. 3 isv a fragmentary rear view of the frame of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a face view of an addressing device in accordance with my applica.- tion 703,899, carrying two of the same tabs; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear View of the addressing device of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-section on the line 'l-l of Fig. 6. v

The tab, designated A, is made of a single piec of thin somewhat resilient material preferably metal, and comprises an upper or visible portion l and a centrally downwardly projecting shankA 2, preferably rounded at the lower end 3.

Formed in the shank 2 is a tongue 4 integral 20 with the shank near the lower end thereof but otherwise separated from the shank. As shown, this separation is Velected by a narrow V-shaped slit 6. The tongue normally lies in the plane of the shank, as shown, but may be readily di- 25 verted therefrom in either direction at an acute angle to such plane. Y

The tab-shank 2 has a width materially less than the head l, so that the shank may be readily passed into strap-like keepersron a device to 30 be indexed with the shoulders provided by-the tab-head forming an abutment limiting theinward movement. The point of the tongue 4 when the tab is inserted coacts with the shoulder on the device to be indexed to form a temporary 35'A or releasable abutment to prevent the removal of the tab. This will be explained with reference to each of the addressing devices illustrated in the drawing.

Referring to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, I have shown the 40 edge H of the holder l0 and suitable lips l2 cut 50 from the holder, and end stops I3, which may be on spring tongues I4 formed of the metal of the holder to enable the ready insertion, retention and removal of the plate. The index card 30 is shown as held by curled over upper lip l5 of 55 Gor the holder and suitable lips i6 pressed up from the body of the holder.

Formed by the material of the plate l is a row of keepers 40, which are in the plane of the plate or very slightly above it. Each keeper comprises a strap separated above and below from the plate proper (which is relatively depressed inv these regions) and connected at their ends by intermediate plate portions 4l, which are bowed upwardly from the plane of the adjacent plate portions, being connected therewith above and be-- low by gradual offsets. Thus, the strap portions form loops relatively raised from the portionsof the plate immediately above and below them.

Between the row of keepers 4U and the adjacent edge of the plate is one rof the relativelyY depressed regions above mentioned, which com` prises a horizontal zone 42, depressed from theI plane of the plate, and at the top of thisregion are a series of openings 43 through the offset region'where the zone 42 joins-the body of the plate, adjacent the lower edge of the curled over edge l: Below the various keepers 46 Yis an inclined region 45 of the plate which extends upwardly `and backwardly from theface surface of.` the'plate, the upper edge-of the inclinetermif natinginv aw horizontal. line which is directly behind the horizontal. line'deningk the Vloweredge of the keepers 46. This inclined portion' forms the other relatively depressed region ofV the plate.

It results from the above described constructionf that the plate or other member to be indexed: has, along its upper portion, a' row` ofpockets open at the upper fend, each pocket having its admission through a slot V43, then a forwardly open portion in front ofA the zone- 42, then a rearwardly'open portion behind` the-keepers 40 andnally, a forwardly open, but'-rearwardlyfclosed, inclined portion .45.-

Thepockets -abovedescribed and the shanks of" my ftabs are fsomutually' dimensioned that the shank= may befreadilyinsertedv in any pocket vand bepositionedthereby. Accordingly, the shank 2 has.A al Width 'only slightly ylessethan .that lof any pocket and the tl-iicknessoff the tab is.. only slightlyfless than `the depth of the pocket, as

bounded at the rear by the front `face of the` zone 42 landfat theifront by the rear face` of the keepers 40.-

New, when the tab is inserted, a peculiar action'v takes place. As soo-n as the lower end .of-the shankuengages the incline 45 of theplate, the further shoving in of the tab bends thelower end forwardly by reason of thel camming action of stheplate and this projects the tonguerearvvardly` as -illustrated in Fig. 4. When. inthis position,

the-.endof .the tongue stands'directly in line ywiththe :olsetrbodyfportion 42 vof the` plate; Accordingly, the tab cannot be drawn outwhen thev tongue isin. this position.

It Will be seen from the above description that slight fmanual pressure, as,.for instance, by the usersthumb 'nail against Vthe tongue 4 .at the rear sidefof the'plate.V As shown inl Fig. 3, the space behindfthe keepers 46 is open, and accord'A ingly, the-tongues 4 arereadily'accessible, and a However,`

slight pressure against the tongue bends it back into the normal plane of the tab shank so that the tab may be very readily removed.

The addressing device C shown in Figs. 5, 6 and '1, is designed for direct embossing on the article itself rather than as a frame to hold a separate plate. Fig. 5 shows that face of the device which is against the paper during the printing operation, the opposite face (Fig. 6) being usually vertical and forward when the devicesare stacked in a storage drawer. Describing the construction when the device lies horizontally with the face of Fig. 6 uppermost, the l of 'some or all of the matter embossed on theA plate. The two card retaining edges 59` and 60-y extend substantially the entire width'of the'plate,`

althoughtheedge y60 uis interrupted into aseries of1 projections to providey for downwardly turned strip -portions 650i the plate, hereinafter described.

The rowrof keepers 56 of the'tab is behind .the indexcard, as clearly shown in` Fig. 7, and the interposition ofl-the'keepers between the tabzand index makes it impossible vfor vone to interfere with the position of theother.

The strip portions 65 of the fplatefC, itwill-'be noticed `from Fig. '1, arcata slightangle to the faceof the-plate. It willbe seen alsolv from this Y figureI that each keeper has a. projection'61 :ex--y tending-from it toward the region'to be occupied by the tab, this -projection Ybeing preferably madev by indenting the opposite faceof ,the keeper, as

illustrated. Y

Withy the addressing device as shown ein Figss 5, 6, and 7, when the tab is slid into the pocket the end of thetab shank is vguided along the inclined-portion 65 which bends 'the tab. The point-ofoflexure of the tongue to the-tabisso located'that as the plate portion 65 'bends thev end-of .the tab, this actiontends to orcefthe.

tongue 4-away from the plate. At the'same time, the projection 61 presses against the tongue -4 and forces it away from the plane of the keeper as soon asthe point of the ton-gue Vclears theplate por-- tion' 64.

Thus, under the combined -action of the inclined surface 65 and the projection 61 on the plate C, the freevend of the tab tongue comes into abutting relation with ,the edge of the depressed'` zone 64, thus locking the tab against removal until the tongue again is forced out of abutment with that portion.

The two forms of addressing device illustrated: inthe drawing show that my tabA is adapted for mounting in different forms of holders. The' tongue may be diverted from its normal position eitherv by bending the lower end Vofthe tab or. by. the projection to' engagethe tongue or by the' combinedaction of both incline and projection.

V It will be` seen that Vthe tabs having thev tongue normally in the same plane as the rest of the tab,` possess a decidedadvantage over tabs having: projecting bars'or'wings. My tabsmay be more compactly. stored;l are not likely to become tangled; may be used without possibility of injuring the operators ngers; are insertable with either face forward into holders of various types, and are adapted for very cheap manufacture.

I claim:

1. An index tab comprising a strip having a head and a resilient tongue below the head and pointing toward it, said tongue normally lying in the plane of the strip but adapted to be caused to project therefrom in use.

2. An index tab comprising a strip having a head and a spring tongue extending toward the head and normally lying in the plane of the strip but adapted to be positioned at an angle thereto consequent upon the bending of the strip, said head providing a shoulder adapted to limit the inserting movement of the tab.

3. An index tab having a head and a shank, a resilient tongue comprising part of the material of the shank and attached at its lower end to the shank and projecting toward the head of the tab and free from the shank at the upper end of the tongue, the tongue lying normally in the plane of the shank.

4. An index tab comprising a thin strip of sheet material having a head and a shank materially narrower than the head, said shank being connected with the head by an abrupt transverse shoulder, and a spring tongue cut out of the shank so as to be free therefrom at its sides while attached thereto at its lower end and projecting upwardly toward the head and normally lying in the plane of the shank, but adapted to be readily bent at an upwardly facing acute angle to such shank.

5. An index tab comprising a thin strip of spring metal having a head and a shank, and an upwardly extending tongue cut out of the shank, the lower end of the tongue uniting with the body of the shank and the tongue normally lying in the plane of the shank and having a length materially greater than its width, whereby the point of the tongue may stand entirely beyond the side of the shank when the tongue is bent at a slight angle to the shank.

6. An index tab comprising a thin strip having a head and a parallel-sided shank materially narrower than the head connected with it by an abrupt shoulder, and a tongue cut outv of the shank by a V-shaped opening piercing the shank mid-way between the side edges thereof with the apex of the V upward, the lower end of the tongue uniting with the body of the shank and the tongue normally lying in the plane of the shank and having a length materially greater than its width, whereby the point of the tongue may stand entirely beyond the side of the shank when the tongue is bent at a slight angle to the shank.

7. An index tab comprising a thin, flat piece of spring metal having a head and a resilient shank, and a tongue cut out from the shank connected at its lower end to the shank adjacent the lower end of the shank, said tongue normally lying in the plane of the shank but being adapted to l project from either face thereof when the lower end of the shank is bent.

WALTER T. GOLLWITZER. 

